A THREE-STAR hotel, tourism and leisure facilities, and new shops are among future plans for Longridge.

Councillors and key business leaders have complied a report for Ribble Valley councillors on the economic development of the area over the next five years.

Other ideas for the town include a street market, expanding the cinema as an arts centre and theatre, more local job training and small businesses, and a development of industry and factories.

Coun Ken Hind, a Longridge councillor who has been involved in the creation of the report, said: “Longridge has a proud and independent self-help tradition, and in this time of economic downturn we have planned not only for dealing with the short- term economic problems, but for long-term infrastructure improv-ements.

He added: “We see the need for Ribble Valley Borough Council to expand its economic development department and set up a business centre to provide advice to create new businesses, expand existing ones, and develop job training for the area.

“A central pillar of our plans is to make Longridge more attrac-tive as a service centre and bring more customers into the town to generate more economic activity, using the businesses, shops and improved leisure services.”

The report will be handed to all Longridge councillors, who will then be in a position to argue its goals in committees of Ribble Valley and Lancashire County Council.

Coun Hind added: “Longridge is on the periphery of Ribble Valley and, as such, has a lot in common with Preston, with whom we should plan for new jobs, inward investment and industrial devel-opment.”